Tube clamping and severing machine



Oct. 11, 1949. f N. D. ABBEY 2,484,601

TUBE CLAMPING AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 a INVENTOR. n NEL 5 UN JlABBEY .wg, BY \3 Maw/L $4 W44 41? Oct. 11, 1949. N. DABBEY TUBE CLAHPING AND SEVERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1945 m mHH m 7 m m fi INVENTOR. NELEBNDAEBBY 6mm will,

Oct. 11, 1949. N. o. ABBEY TUBE CLAHPING AND SBVERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-$11001. 3

Filed Aug. 4, 1945 M 0 Em kwm Z 6 I M Oct, 11, 1949. N. o. ABBEY TUBE CLAMPING AND SEVERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1945 T INVENTOR. JIEL 5 UN 1]. ABBEY Oct. 11, 1949. N. D. ABBEY 2,484.601

TUBE CLAMPING AND SEVERING MACHINE Q 1 126 315-15- mmvroa. r 1 \427 NEL 5 1m ILAB Y V H 115 o 'AM f I Ill 1! U- 1949- N. n. ABBEY 2,484,601

TUBE CLAIPING AND SEVBRING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 13L J/XT 10a Ina-l4- m 16; 2

TANK '95 INVENTOR. an 11AM?! Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE TUBE CLAMPING AND SEVERING MACHINE Nelson 1). Abbey, Toledo, Ohio Application August 4, 1945, Serial No. 608,885

2 Claims. (Cl. 164-60) This invention relates to tubing machines, but

more particularly to machines for cutting tubing into desired lengths.

An object is to produce a new and improved machine which is operable automatically to clamp a length of tubing and while so clamped and held stationary, to sever the tubing, the severing mechanism subsequently fully retracting before the tubing is released, such mechanism having the novel features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

Another object is to produce a tube clamping and cutting mechanism in which the several operating parts function successively in response to hydraulic controls, thereby enabling the operator after proper adjustments have been made, to start the machine in operation so that without further manipulation, the machine successively clamps the tube and severs the same in the desired man-' ner, the severing and clamping mechanism thereupon being successively rendered ineffective automatically, whereupon the machine is ready for the next cycle of operation.

A further object is to produce new and improved manually operated control forregulating l the cutting tool holder and operating spindle therefor;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away to show the relation of the clamping and tool feeding mechanisms;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view substantially on the line 99 of Figure 8, show- I ing the tool holders and associated parts;

the fast and slow movements of the tube cutting chine for automatically clamping a length of tubing and holding it stationary. Thereafter the tube is automatically severed and prior to release of the tubing, the cutting tools are retracted.

Controls are provided so that the operator need only start the mechanism in operation and the desired sequence of operations thereafter takes place automaticallly. Simple adjustments are provided so that the cutting operation can be readily and conveniently controlled, thereby adapting the machine for cutting tubes of difierent diameters. Preferably the parts are'hydraulically operated, actuated or controlled to and from their effective positions.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine for clamping and cutting tubing, the same being shown in association with a tube feeding mechpresent invention;

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the machine.

showing the adjustable cam controlling device governing the movement of the cutting tools;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line l2l 2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view on the line |3l3 of Figure 11; and

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic system for the tube clampin and the tube severing mechanisms.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a machine for cutting metal tubing or severing a length of tubing into predetermined shorter lengths and consists in general of mechanism which operates first to clamp or hold the tube in stationary position and while the tube is so held, to sever the walls of the tube. As shown on Figure 1, the machine is indicated at I0 and in advance of such machine is a tube feeding machine I I by which the tube may be recurrently advanced to sever from a continuous length of tubing, sections of predetermined length. However, the tube feeding mechanism II forms no part of the present invention and further description thereof is not considered necessary.

The machine I0 consists of a housing I! within which the operating parts are housed except for the tubeclamping jaws which are generally indicated at I3, these operating firmly to grip the tubing and hold it in stationary position during 3 the cutting or severing operation as will hereinafter appear. Referring particularly to Figure 3, the tube clamping mechanism comprises a pair of complementary clamp jaws I4 and I5 which are pivoted intermediate their ends upon a shaft l8 carried by a bracket II which is vertically disposed and projects from a portion of the housin l2. It will be observed that each of the jaws l4 and i5 have semi-cylindrical projections i8 on opposite sides in order to grip a substantial portion of the tubing.

The clamping jaws l4 and i5 are rocked to and from tube clamping position by a toggle l9, the outer ends'of the toggle links being pivoted respectively to the inner ends of the jaws l4 and i5 and the center of the toggle being pivotally connected to the forward end of a piston rod 28. The piston rod 20 has a piston (not-shown) at its inner end which is mounted for reciprocathe piston rod 28 is moved to the left of Figure 3 whereupon the toggle I8 is straightened out, the clamping ends of the jaws l4 and i5 are moved into operative clamping position and securely held in such position by hydraulic pressure as will hereinafter more fully appear.

As the description proceeds, it will be manifest that after a suificient length of tubing has been delivered to the machine, the clamping jaws l4 and I5 are first moved into operative position rigidly to clamp the tubing and hold it stationary preparatory to the cutting or severing operation, tubing being introduced into the machine from the right-hand side .(Figure 1) and extending as far through as required for the severed tube section. As shown on Figure 4, the tubing T 'is clamped in position by the clamping jaws l4 and I5 and the forward end thereof extends into an elongate stationary liner tube 24. The outer end of the liner tube 24 is provided with an annular flange 25 through which bolts 28 extend for securing the liner flange to a cap 21 which in turn is secured by bolts 28 to the housing l2.

Disposed outside of the stationary linertube 24 and rotatable thereabout is an operating spindle 29 which is mounted for rotation within the housing |2 on anti-friction thrust bearings 38 and 3 I. One race of the bearing 3| is mounted on a collar portion 32 which is an integral portion of an annular spindle flange F, the flange being in turn an integral part of the spindle 29. The other race of the bearing 3| is mountedon the tubular part 33 of a ring plate 34 which is secured by bolts 35 to a bracket 38 rigid with the housing 12. The spindle flange F has an inwardly extending annular projection 35a which rotates on the outer face of the ring 33 and is formed with a series of ring-like ribs 35b which rotatably fit grooves formed in the ring plate 34 thereby to provide an oil seal between these relatively rotating parts.

Keyed to the spindle 29 is a sheave 31 which is driven by V belts 38 from a sheave 39 mounted on the armature shaft of an electric motor 48 (Figure 2). It will thus be apparent that the 4 ting tools are moved to and from the work while the spindle is rotating.

As shown on Figure 10, the spindle flange is formed with two pairs of spaced radially extending ribs 4| and fitting on the inside of each of the ribs 4| is a gib 42 and each gib is formed on its inner face with a substantially V-shaped groove 43. Each gib is held in place by a plate 44 which is secured in place by a series of bolts 45. The gibs may be adjusted toward and away from each other by set screws 48.

In each pair of gibs 42 is a tool holder assembly mounted for radialreciprocatory movement for moving the cutting tools to and from the work. The tool holder assembly comprises an elongate wedge carrying member 41 (Figure 6) provided with an integral wedge or cam 48, the upper surface 49 of which tapers outwardly from the free end. The wedge 48 projects at substantially right angles from the lower end of the member 41 and integral therewith is a substantially rectangular boss 59. Flaring outwardly from the inner portion of the boss 50 are tapered guide surfaces 5| which have sliding contact with the inner side of the V-shaped grooves 43 of the gibs 42 (Figure 10). The inner face 52 of the wedge carrying member 41 is flat except for a centrally disposed longitudinally extending semicircular groove 53 which is formedwith screw threads 54. A plate member 55 is adapted to abut against the flat inner face 52 of the wedge carrying member 41 and is likewise provided with a flat face 58 and a central longitudinal extending semi-circular grooves 51 which cooperate with the groove 53 and is of similar conformation so that when the two parts are in place, a circular hole is provided for the reception of an adjusting screw as will hereinafter appear. The groove 51 is smooth and free of screw threads.

The plate member 55 is also provided on opposite sides with tapering guide surfaces 58 which engage the outer side of the V groove 43 of the gibs 42. A key 59 (Figure 10) interposed between the wedge carrying member 41 and the plate 55, militates against lateral movement of these parts during operative radial movement thereof.

Formed on the outer face of the plate 55 is a boss and projecting outwardly from the central portion of the boss 80 is a longitudinally elongate substantially rectangular guide key 8| which fits into an elongate groove 82 in an adapter plate 83 which is secured to the boss 88 by screws the tube to be severed, these assemblies sliding in gibs which are carried by and rotate with the spindle flange F. Initial adjustment of each of the above tool holder assemblies may be effected by an adjusting screw 18 which has a squared upper end 1| to receive a suitable wrench. The screw 10 fits in the complementary grooves 53 and 51 and engages the screw threads 54 formed in the groove 53. An intermediate portion of the screw has a smoothreduced neck 12 to receive the forked end of a key member 13 which extends through the plate member 55 (Figure 10) and is yieldingly urged into engagement with the screw by a coil spring 14. The inner end of the spring 14 seats in a socket formed in the adapter plate 63.

It will be evident that by adjusting the screw I0, the tool holder may be adjusted radially inwardly or outwardly as desired relative to the wedge carrying member 41. In this manner initial adjustment of the tools with respect to the tube to be severed may readily be effected.

As particularly indicated in Figure '7, the spindle flange F is formed in the region of the spindle 29 with a pair of oppositely arranged substantially rectangular shaped guide openin s 15 and into the lower portion of each of these openings from the outer side thereof, extends the cam or wedge 49 on the wedge carrying member 41 of the tool holder assembly. Also extending into each of the openings 15 but from the inner side thereof, is a wedge member 16 which is integral with a collar 11 slidable along the spindle 29 but secured for rotation thereto by a key 19. The inner face of each wedge member 16 is formed with a cam surface 18 which is in sliding contact with the cam surface 49 of the adjacent wedge member 48.

It will be manifest that by movement of the collar 11 to the right of Figure 4, the tool holder assemblies will be concomitantly moved radially in a direction toward the tube T to be severed, such movement being suflicient to cause the revolving cutting tools 68 to cut through the wall of the tube T to effect the severing operation. The chips resulting from the cutting operation fall into a chute 80 (Figures 2 and 3) which leads to the outside of the machine.

Movement of the collar 11 to the left of Figure 4 releases the wedges 48 of the tool carrying v assemblies which are retracted away from the work to their normal inoperative position by coil springs BI, the lower ends of which seat upon a shoulder 82 formed in the spindle flange F and the upper ends of which abut against flattened surfaces on pins 83 which are fixed to the upper ends of each of the wedge carrying members 41 of the tool assembly.

The collar 11 with which the wedges 16 are integral, is formed with an annular groove 64 to receive rollers 85 carried by the arms of a yoke 86 which is mounted in brackets 81.0n a portion of the housing. Forming a part of the yoke 86 is an arm 08 to which is pivotally connected the piston rod 89 which has a piston (not shown) operatin in a feed cylinder 90. Fittings 9| and 92 are ad pted to deliver liquid under pressure to opposite ends of the cylinder for driving the piston therein in one direction or the other, thereby to impart movement of the collar 11 in one direction or the other axially of the spindle shaft 29.

As above po nted out. both the tube clamping mechanism and the tube severing mechanism are hydrau ica ly operated and for this purpose. an electric motor 93 drives a suitable pump 94 which communic tes with an oil reservoir or tank 95. Referring to Figure 14. the pump 94 pumps the oil or other suitable liquid from the tank 95 first to a pressure regulating valve 96 of any suitable design such as to ma nta n the oil pressure within the line at a predetermined point relieving any excess pressure and allowing liquid thereby to return through a tube 91 to the tank 95. From the pressure regulating valve 96. oil passes to a double solenoid valve 98 and in the normal operation of the machine, liquid passes through a tube 99 from the valve 98, through a valve I00 to the outer end of the clamping cylinder 2| through the fitting 22 thereby causing the clamping jaws I4 and I5 to operate as above described, and sesurely clamping in a rigid manner the tube to be severed. After the clamping operating has been accomplished and pressure builds up in the valve I00, liquid under pressure passes through the tube IOI through the fitting 92 to the outer end of the feed cylinder 90, forcing the piston therein outwardly of the cylinder and thereby causing the wedge carrying collar 11 to move to the right of Figure 5 to move the cutting tools into operative position as above explained.

It will be evident that when the piston and the clamping cylinder 2! moves to the left of Figure 14 to move the clamping jaws I4 and I5 into clamping position, the liquid in advance of the piston is forced from the forward end of the cylinder through the fitting 23 and into the line I 02 to a sequence valve I03 and thence to the tank through a tube I04. It will also be understood that the liquid in advance. of the piston operating in the feed cylinder is forced through the fitting 9|, through the tubes I05, I 06, through the valve mechanism I01, through the tube I08 to the sequence valve I03 from which it returns to the tank through the tube I04.

As will hereinafter appear, the piston rod 89 operating in the feed cylinder 90 moves with relative rapidity to a certain predetermined point of its travel and thereafter moves relatively slowly, which movement corresponds to the feeding movement of the cutting tools into the tube to be severed. It will be manifest from the above description that the oil in advance of the piston operating in the feed cylinder 90 has relatively free passage through the tubes I05, I06 through the valve mechanism I01, tube I08 to the return or drain tube I04. The valve mechanism I01 is closed in a controlled manner so that further passage of oil therethrough from the tube I06 to the tube I08, is prevented. It will be observed that the valve mechanism I01 includes a valve control stem I09 on the outer end of which is a roller H0. The stem reciprocates and in the inward position operates to close the valve thereby to shut off the flow of liquid from the tube I06 to the tube I08 and in the outward position such as indicated on Figure 14, the valve is open, establishing communication between these tubes. The valve stem I09 is urged outwardly by any suitable spring I not shown) so that the roller constantly engages a cam sector II I. The cam sector has a relieved portion II 2 adjacent one end thereof and a raised port on II3 contiguous to the relieved portion.

The cam sector III is rotatably mounted on a shaft II4 (Figure 12) which is fixed to and rotatable with the yoke 86 which actuatcs the wedge carry ng collar 11. Fixed for turning movements with theshaft H4 and mounted directly beneath the cam sector I I I is an operating plate II5 which has a laterally extending arm II6. Mounted on a rearward edge portion of the cam sector III is a bracket II1 which is screwth eaded threadedly to receive an adjusting stem H8. The inner end portion of the stem has a collar II9 which is disposed between the forked end of t e arm II6 of the plate H5. The inner end of the adiusting stem H8 is connected by a universal joint I 20 to a sleeve I2I with which a rod I22 telescopes. The telescoping portions of the rod I22 and the sleeve I2I are such that turning movement of the rod I22 impart turning movement to the sleeve I2I.

The rod I22 is connected by a universal joint 7 I23 to the stem of an adjusting dial I24. It will be manifest that by turning the dial I24 in one direction or the other, the adiusting stem III is turned to effect rotative adjustment of the cam sector III with respect to the plate II5. In this manner, the time at which the valve actuating stem I09 is actuated is controlled. Manifestly, when the roller IIO engages the relieved portion of the cain sector I I I, the valve and valve mechanism I| is open allowing free flow of liquid under pressure therethrough but as soon as the roller engages the raised portion II3 of the cam sector, the valve actuating stem I09 is depressed, thereby closing the valve and preventing flow of liquid through the valve mechanism I01.

Manifestly, the plate II which rotates with the shaft I I4 and the cam sector III oscillate together, the sleeve I2I sliding along the rod I22 during such movement.

Whenever the valve and valve mechanism I0! is closed in response to the operation of the cam sector III, liquid in the forward end of the feed cylinder 90 then by-passes from the tube I05 to the sequence valve I03 through a metering valve I25 which can be adjusted to control the flowof liquid therethrough. The purpose of the metering valve is to control the speed of the relatively slow movementof the piston rod 89 during the final movement thereof and at the time when the cutting tools are forming their cutting operation. Metering valves of this type are old and well-known in the art as are the remaining valve mechanisms above mentioned and are available on the market, such, for example, as well-known Vickers valve mechanisms. Detail illustration and description are not considered necessary because they are well known to those skilled in this From the above description, it will be understood that the clamping mechanism and tube severing mechanism operate in sequence and that the movement of the clamping tools to the work and during the cutting operation are readily controllable thereby conveniently toadapt the machine for difierent size tubes and for top walls of varying thicknesses.

After the cutting operation has been completed, the cutting tools are first retracted from the work and thereafter the tubing is unclamped or released. Such retracting and releasing operations are controlled by a pair of fingers I26 which are mounted on the yoke shaft II4 (Figures 11 and 14). Interposed between the pair of fingers I26 is a roller I21 carried by a switch arm I28 which is part of the switch mechanism I29. The switch I29 is electrically connected to a solenoid I30 which is oneof the solenoids forming part of the double solenoid valve 98. Thus,

(Figure 14) a predetermined extent sumcient so that one of the arms rocks the switch arm I28 to energize the solenoid I30,.the valve therein is thereupon shifted so that the pump 94 may then force liquid intothe tube I3I to the. sequence valve I03. From the sequence valve I03, liquid .upon counterclockwise movement of the arms I26 forced therefrom through the fitting 92, tube IOI,

, through the valve I00, tube 99, to the double soletracting movement, liquid passes from the sequence valve I03 through the tube I33, through the fitting 23 to the rearward end of the clamping cylinder 2| to force the piston therein to the right of Figure 14 and cause the clamping jaws I4 and I5 to move apart to their unclamped positions. At this time, liquid from the cylinder 2| is then forced therefrom through the fitting 22. tube I34, through the valve I00 and to the tube 99, and thence to the drain I32 leading from the double solenoid valve 98.

When the above operation has substantially been completed, one of the fingers I26 will have tripped the valve lever I28 to deenergize the solenoid I30.

The above completes the cycle of operation and for the machine again to be rendered effective for tube cutting operation, a control button I35 (Figure 11) must be operated. The control button I35 is electrically connected to the solenoid I36 which constitutes the other solenoid of the double solenoid valve 98 and energization of the solenoid I36 causes the valve therein to operate to enable the pump 94 again to force liquid under pressure to the tube 99 as hereinbefore described. It should be understood that in the normal position forming a part of the double solenoid valve 98, the tube I3I is closed to.trap liquid therein and in the tubes associated therewith, to militate against the admission of air therein. It is found that air bubbles in the system militate against uniform operation of the members and particularly is disadvantageous in respect of the feeding movement of the tool assemblies in response to the tube feeding movement of the piston within the feed cylinder 90.

From the above description, it will be manifest that I have produced an extremely practical and emcient machine by which tubing may be cut or severed. To perform such operation, it is merely necessary to energize the hydraulic system where- .upon the tubing is first clamped, then the cutting isperformed, the cutting tools being moved to inoperative position before the tubing is released or unclamped. Thereupon, the hydraulic system is automatically rendered ineffective and in order to start the machine to perform its work, the starting control must be manipulated. The movement of the cutting tools with respect to the work is regulated simply by adjusting a dial conveniently located on the machine, thereby enabling as rapid accomplishment of the work as can be efficiently achieved. Thus the machine can be adapted to work on tubes of different diameters, the tube liner being replaceable without flows freely through the tube I08, valve mechdifliculty. to accommodate larger or smaller tubing.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, tube severing mechanism comprising a rotating head, tube cutting tools on said head for movement therewith, a carrier for said tools on said head en abling approximately radial movement thereof to and from cutting operation, cooperablecam means including a part concentric with and movable axially of said head for causing working 1, movement of said tools. spring means for imparte- 9 ing retracting movement to said tools upon completion of the cutting operation, and fluid pressure means for positively actuating said concentric part in such manner that the tools are advanced rapidly to the tube to be cut and then moved slowly throughout the cutting operation.

2. In a machine of the class described, tube severing mechanism comprising a rotating head, tube cutting tools on said head for movement therewith, a carrier for said tools on said head enabling approximately radial movement thereof to and from cutting operation, cooperable cam means including a part concentric with'and movable axially of said head for causing working movement of said tools, spring means for imparting retracting movement to said tools upon completion of the cutting operation, and fluid pressure means for positively actuating said concentric part in such manner that the tools are advanced rapidly to the tube to be cut and then moved slowly throughout the cutting operation, said fluid pressure means including means mov- 10 able in response to movement of said concentric part for controlling such rapid and slow tool movement.

NELSON D. ABBEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED s'ra'rns PA'I'ENTS 

